Joint and jointing tool for tube wells



-Dec. 13, 1927:

C. DAY

JOINT AND JOINTING TOOL FOR TUBE WELLS Filed Oct. 4,1924

Fla/f Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

NITED ,fi Ai'lTE S CHARLES DAY, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

JOINT, AND JOINTING. r001. non T U,BE ,wEL s.

Application filed vOctober 4, 1924.. Serial No. 741,672.

r This invention comprises an improved in joint for tube wells or thelike in which two coaxial tubes. of, difierent diameters are joinedbelow ground levehand also a joint ingtoolor plug useful 1nettectrng a fluid- T tight joint between. the .tubes.

,In sinking a tube well, it is necessary to -.put down a sinking tube ofsufiicient inter- V nal d ameter to permit free passage therepipeattachedthereto.

through ofthe strainer and the plain rising If,. for any reason, it isdesired to joint the strainer and rising p pe theretromto a casing pipe,suchjoint having tobe made below .ground, and, possibly under water, aspecially constructed form of joint must be ema ploy,ed.

.that the upp er part ot'the well be of larger bore than the lowerpart,.o r strainer, generln modern tube wells it is usually requisiteally because a pump has to be accommodated within the upper part. IAlso, it is good pract ce to feed coarse sand or. gravel down and aroundthe strainer,

"while the sinking tube or outer casing pipe 1s be1ng withdrawn.

.Means should also be provided to prevent the sinking tube, outer casingor the like from parting company with the tube well or rising pipe fromthe, strainer, when the former in withdrawal has reached ,thedesiredlevel on-its return journey: from" the full depth of the bore.

. I provide for leaving a portionof the sinking tube in the ground toform the c asing 0t,

the pump.

, In many deep wells it is found necessary to use a relatively largediameter of bore for the first few hundredfeet and to reduce thediameter in steps as the bore procecds. In wells of this, description1t.1s sometimes v meeessary to line t l1e,bore vith tubing,and

one objectot this invention, is to provide suitable means whereby ,thejointsjbetween the different lengths of different diameters maybe madeand also be kept fluid-tight.

, As usually arranged, the joint formed will dinalstress tending to vseparate the two tubes, which stress, owing to the fact that it issometimes advisable to suspend the strainer and pump casing at groundlevel, ,to, prevent settlement of the liable to he developed therein.

tube well, 7 is lVith the above and other objects in view the inventioncomprises a means for 'ointing below ground level two tubes of difi'rentdiameters wherein the tube ot larger diameter has, preferably ator nearitslower end, an internallyprojecting part reducing the internaldiameter thereof, said parthaving notches, slots, grooves or serrationson its interior surface. Said notches orthe like extend only'partlythrough said Jrojeeting part from the upper edge thereo and' the tube ofsmaller diameter has, preferably at or near its upper. end, two or more,butlpref er ably at least three, outwardly projecting lugs or theequivalent adapted to enter the notches or the likeand tobe engaged'bythe unbroken lower portion of'fthe internally projecting part of thelarger tube to form a joint therewith.

It will be understood that theinternally projecting and. the, externallyprojecting parts on the tubes 10f larger andsmaller diameter may be sopositioned relatively to the ends of said tubes that when brought intoengagement a joint havingan overlap ot desired amount may beformedcbetween the two tubes.

v The internally projecting part of the, tube of larger diameter will:usually be ,part of the cutting edge used for sinking said tube.

The annular space between'the overlapping ends of the two tubes to bejoined is lilledwit-hcemeut grout or the like, or with other suitablesealing material capable of setting solid after'being deposited, forexample asphalt or pitch, to .complete the joint. i

' The invention also comprises a tool or plug to assist in forming thejoint below ground, which plug is lowered "into, position and adaptedtoengage and seal off. the top of the inner tube'of smaller diameterand'prefer ably also the outer tubeof larger diameter above the annularspace formed by the/overlapping of the two tubes,,ai1d providingmeanswhereby cement grout ,or' other seal- .lng material may bedlrectedto fillthe said annular. space, without entering theinner tube. i i

The plug. comprises means for eflecting fluid-tight contact with theinterior surface ofthe pipe or space to b e .sealed,iconstit uted byrings of rubber or other suitable material adapted to beexpandedlaterally and radially by p ressure appliedithereto by the, toolparallel to the axis of the tube well, whereby the necessary fluid-tightcontact may be made.

The invention further comprises means for forming a fluid-tight joint toclose off the lower end of the said annular space for grouting orsealing the same.

In the accompanying drawings Fig' 1 is a longitudinal section showingone embodiment of the joint with the plug in position for grouting thejoint;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line li-l.i of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper end oi the rising pipe from thestrainer or the upper end of the smaller and lower of the two pipes tobe joined; and

Fig. 1 is a cross-section on the line K-Il of Fig. 1.

1 is a projecting portion, wnich preferably may be the cutting shoe, theinner diameter vof which is smaller than the inner diameter of thesinking tube or outer casing 2 which is to be jointed but larger thanthe outer diameter of the rising tube from the strainer or the lowersection of the other tube 6 to be joined.

The interior surface of this projecting portion or cutting sho 1 isgrooved, notched or serrated as shown at 3, 3, the grooves or serrationsincreasing the diameter of the inner surface so that, at the bottom ofsaid grooves, it is equal to the internal diameter of the casing 2. Thegrooves or serrations do not extend the full depth of this projectingportion from its top edge, so that the part 5 just above the inner bevell of the cutting edgehas its minimum internal diaameter and at thispoint has an unbroken surface, not being reduced by the notches,

I serrations, grooves or the like.

A short distance below the top end of the rising tube 6 two or more, butpreferably at least three, projecting lugs 8, 8, are riveted orotherwise connected to the rising tube.

' These lugs may conveniently take the shape f small pieces of angleiron. The outstanding legs of these lugs or the like are of such lengththat the lugs will act as centering means for centering the top of theinner or rising tube 6 and maintaining itsubstantially coaxial with theouter tube 2. That is to say, the outer diameter outside these lugs willbe slightly less than the internal diameter of the casing 2, butdistinctly greater than the internal diameter of the part 5. l Vith thisarrangement the two tubes 2 and 6 cannot part company, because if it isattempted to draw the outer tube, in withdrawing, when its cutting edgecomes opposite the lugs 8 on the inner tube 6, the

lugs will enter into some of the grooves or serrations 8 and W111 beengaged by the part 5. The outer tube 2 is thus adapted to engage themner tube 6 in such a manner that further withdrawal of the outer tubewould cause the inner tube to rise with it.

Gravel or other suitable material may be fed down the annular space 9between the two tubes during the process of withdrawal of the outertube, so that in the final position thelower tube may be surrounded by alayer of gravel or the like separating this tube from the wall of thebore hole. In certain parts of the bore this space may be filled with animpervious material such as cement grout, the gravel or the like onlybeing used in the neighbourhood of the strainer.

.lt will be seen that a strong joint, capable of resisting tensileforces. is effected, space is left for feeding down graveh'and theserrations inside the cutting shoe permit any lengths of pipe which mayhave been screwed to the top of the tube well to be run screwed withoutrotating the sinking tube.

To stop the entry of sand which might rise up between the overlap of thetwo tubes, I. fill the space between them with Portland cement grout,the grout acting a filler only.

Or I may use lead shot or any other tiller.

In filling the annular space provision is made for blocking the flow ofgrout both up wards and downwards, and confining it as far as possibleto the annular space between the overlapping parts of the pipes.

An annular rubber packing 10 may be inserted from above and caused totake up a position resting on top of the lugs 8, 8 in the annular spacebetween the overlapping parts of the pipes 2 and 6. If preferred, thisrubber packing ring may be fitted or fixed to the pipe 6, or to eitherpipe, in its desired position before the pipe is lowered in position. vv

Preferably a metal ring or washer 11 gin ing suitable clearances isfirst placed upon the tops of the lugs 8 so as to give sufficientsupport to the rubber packing 10.

For blocking the annular space on top there is used a tool or plugcomprising a central part 12 which is mounted on a central hollow shaft13 so that it can freely rotate on the latter. An upper sleerela 3.110.a lower sleeve 15 are also mounted on the shaft 13, engaging,respectively, a right-handed and a left-handed screw-thread 16 and 17 onthe exterior of the shaft 13. Means such as studs 18 or pins 19 may beprovided which enter sockets in the part 12, preventthe two sleeves 1and 15 from rotating relatively to the part 12. A cup 20 holds thepartstogether. Rubber ring or other suitable packings 21 are inserted in a dpression or gland 22 between the parts 12 and 14:, these rings beingadapted upon co1n pression to expand laterally and radially and to forma fluid-tightcontact between the plug and the inner surface of the tube2.

Other rubber rings 23 inserted in a depression or gland space 21 betweenthe parts 12 and 15 are adapted upon compression to expand laterally andradially and to form a fluid-tight contact between the plug and theinner surface of the tubes 6.

The upper edge of the inner tube 6 is provided with slots 25 adapted tobe engaged by projections or pins 26 fixed to the part 12. The parts 15and 20 of the plug may be coned to permit the plug to enter freely theupper part of the tube 6.

The plug is fixed to a hollow down pipe by which the tube 13 may berotated and through which cement grout may be poured.

An eye-bolt 28 is suspended by a wire or the like 29 inside the bottom.of the hollow tube 13. On this bolt are strung rubber washers 30 whichmay be expanded laterally and radially by tightening up the nut 31 toengage the interior of the hollow shaft 1.3 and form a fluid-tight jointtherewith.

The hollow shaft 13 has perforations 32 for grout or the like to passthrough and to find its way through passages 33 to the annular space 34between the overlapping portions of the two tubes 2 and 6 to be joined.

The stopper constituted by the washers 30 is of such length that whenresting on the edge of the cup 20 its upper end does not cover the holes32 in the tube 13.

A. spring 35 attached to the stopper 30 may pass through a hole 36 inthe cup 20 and the shape and length of this spring and the hole in thecap may be so arranged that if the stopper 30 is drawn up by pulling onthe cord 29 this spring will be drawn through the hole and will springoutwards and engage the interior upper surface of the cup when thestopper 30 is sealing off the holes 32.

In action, the two tubes 2 and. 6 being in their desired relativepositions and the washer 10 being in position, the plug is lowered untilit enters the top of the tube 6. It is then slightly rotated until thepins or the like 26 drop into the slots 25 in the top of the tube 6which will prevent further rotation of the central part 12 of the plugrelatively to the tube 6. This action also revents rotation of the parts14 and 15.

he shaft 13 is then rotated further to cause the two parts 14 and 15 toapproach each other. This action may be due to the right and left handedthreads on the said parts and the corresponding threads 16 and 17 on theshaft 13. Or, if preferred, one part, preferably the upper 14, maymerely be compressed against a collar 37 by the movement of the otherpart towards it. In either case the action is such that the rubber rings21 and 23 are expanded to make fluid-tight joints with the two tubes 2and 6 and to isolate the annular space to receive grout.

Grout is now poured in to fill this space and the rubber stopper 30 maythen be partly withdrawn to close off the perforations 32 and to preventany leakage of grout as the tool is being withdrawn.

lVhat I claim is In a well tube, a molded joint comprising two co-axialtubes of different diameters entering one within the other with thelower end of the outer tube overlapping the upper end of the inner tubeof less diameter, leaving between the overlapping ends an annular space,an annulus fixed to the exterior of and extending below the lower end ofsaid outer tube, the extension of said annulus being formed with acontracted zone of an internal diameter less that the internal diamv Rcter of said outer tube, the inner face of said annulus being providedabove the part of maximum contraction with longitudinal grooves, lugsfixed to the exterior of said inner tube above said zone of maximum con-CHARLES DAY.

